Brush for bottle-washing machines.



Patented Jun@ 14;, ma.

ANDREW s. HAMM co. PNQTGLITHDGRAPHKRS. WASHINGTON. D. c;

C. K. VOLCKENING.

BRUSH FOR BOTTLE WASHING MACHINES.

AFPLIOATION FILED JAN. 11, 1910..

CHARLES K. VOLCKENING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BRUSH FOB BOTTLE-WASHING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 14, 1910.

Application filed January 11, 1910. Serial No. 537,394.

To all whom it muy concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES K. VoLoKn- NING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Brush for Bottle-l/Vashing' Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to ferrules for bottle washing brushes, my more particular purpose being to provide an improved spring mechanism for restoring the arms of the brushes to normal position.

More particularly stated, my invention comprehends a ferrule in which there are a plurality of swinging arms adapted to be moved into abnormal positions, and I seek to provide improved spring mechanism simple in construction, durable, and not likely to get out of order, for restoring these arms to their normal positions.

My invention further contemplates that the arms are movable independently of each other and are restored independently of each other to their normal positions.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing a bottle washer brush with its mountings as used with my invention; Fig. 2 is a substantially central section through the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing part of the means I employ for allowing the ferrule to yield under pressure, thereby avoiding breakage; Fig. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, showing one of the arms and also showing my improved spring for actuating the arms; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the ferrule; and Fig. 6 is a perspective of the spring.

Detachably mounted upon a tubular stem 7 is a sleeve 8 provided with a spiral slot 9. Slidably mounted within the sleeve 8 is a ferrule 10. A screw 11 carried by the ferrule 10 extends out through the slot 9. The ferrule rests upon a spring 12 which is supported by a cross pin 13. When Jthe ferrule 10 enters a bottle for the purpose of washing the same, and the stem 7 carrying the sleeve 8 is rotated, the stem is, to a certain extent, free to yield in consequence of compression of the spring 12, and in doing this the ferrule 10 turns slightly on its own axis. By thisl the delicate parts carried by the ferrule are protected from danger of breaking. This much of the construction has been heretofore used.

The ferrule 1() is provided with a head 14 and also with a central passage l5, the latter terminating in an opening 16. rlhe head 14 is further provided with ears 17 and between the latter is a plate 18 of hard metal, preferably steel or bronze. This plate, because of its character, l call a bearing plate. It is held in position by aid of a screw 19, as will be understood from Fig. 2. A hollow screw 20 extends nearly through the head 14, and inserted within this hollow screw is a smaller, but solid, screw 21. The two screws 20, 21 together constitute a composite bolt having a smooth exterior. Journaled upon this bolt are two arms 22, each provided with an anchorage 23. The brushes are shown at 24 and are of rubber. These brushes are mounted directly upon the arms 22.

Each arm 22 is provided with an annular recess 222L and is also provided with an annular bead 25 bounding this recess internally, the bead being thus, of course, concentric to the recess. Each arm 22 is further provided with a slot 26 which merges into the recess 22a. At 27 is a spiral spring which is made of resilient wire wound generally into the form of a cylinder, the two ends 28 of the wire being turned slightly outward. Each end 28 is fitted into a slot 26, so that practically the entire spring is contained within the two annular recesses 22a, the annular beads 25 almost mating together within the spring, as will be understood from Fig. 2.

Each arm 22 is provided with a shoulder 26"i which is adapted to lit flatly upon the bearing plate 18. The arms being mounted as above described and the spring 27 under tension being connected with these arms, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, the tension of the spring tends to maintain the arms in their respective normal positions. That is to say, each arm has its shoulder 26a pressed firmly down against the bearing plate 18.

The operation of my device is as follows: The arms are pressed upward and toward each other according to Fig. 1, in order that the ferrule and its accompanying parts may be inserted in a bottle to be washed. The

stem 7 is rotated and water or other cleansing liquid is supplied through it and through the ferrule l0, so as to wash the bottles as the brushes sweep around therein. The arms 22 (carrying the brushes 24) being once within the bottle, the resiliency ot' the spring 27 forces the arms into their respective normal positions, so that the shoulders E26a are pressed against the Vbearing plate 18. It', now, the ferrule and its mountings be withdrawn from the bottle, the brushes are, of course, swung upward and parallel with each other. The ferrule being now withdrawn from the bottle, the arms are, under action of the spring 27, forced again into normal position.

. It', for any reason, it happens that one of the arms can yield more readily than the other, the arms can be moved independently. For instance, according to F ig. 1, if one of the arms 22 be raised, the other arm may retain its position. Either arm once displaced and afterward freed, is instantly snapped back into its normal position, and this, too, independently of the position of the other arm.

I find that the particular shape given to the spring 27 is of great advantage in attaining simplicity, compactness, neatness, and cleanliness. Moreover, the spring being of this shape is at all times concealed and is not likely to get out of order or to cause anything to go wrong.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In a brush for bottle washing machines, the combination of a body portion provided with ears, a bearing plate detachably connected with said body portion and located between said ears, and arms journaled relatively to said body portion and provided with shoulders for resting upon said bearing plate.

2. A brush for bottle washing machines, comprising a body portion provided with ears, a bearing plate disposed intermediate said ears, a fastening for holding said bearing plate detachably in position, a plurality of arms journaled intermediate said ears, and means for moving' said arms into such positions that portions of saidarms engage said bearing plate.

3. In a brush for bottle Washing machines, the combination of a body portion, a plurality of arms j ournaled relatively to the same and movable in opposite directions, each of said arms being provided with an annular compartment, and a spring connected with both of said arms and mounted within the compartments thereof.

4L. In a brush, the combination of a body portion provided with a head, a plurality of arms journaled Arelatively to said head, and means :torrestoring each arm independently of the other to a predetermined normal position.

`within said head and movable in opposite directions, each of said arms being provided with an annular compartment and with an annular bead bounding said compartment and concentric to the same, and a single spring having generally the form of a cylinder and disposed partially within one compartment and partially within another, said spring at its ends being connected directly to said arms.

7. A brush for bottle washing machines,

comprising a head, a plurality of arms journaled within said head, each of said arms being provided with a compartment and with a slot merging into said compartment, and a spring disposed partially Within one compartment and partially within another compartment, said spring being provided with ends which extend into `the said slots for the purpose of restoring said arms to predetermined normal positions.

8. In a brush for bottle washing machines, the combination of a body portion, arms journaled to swing relatively to said body portion, and a spring concealed within said arms and extending partly into one and partly into another of said arms, said spring being connected directly to said arms, one of said arms being movable independently of the other.

9. In a brush for bottle washing machines, the combination or" a body portion, an arm journaled relatively thereto and provided with an annular compartment, and a spiral spring journaled within said compartment and connected at one of its ends directly to said arm, and means for securing the opposite end of said spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES K. voLcKENiNe.

Witnesses VALTON HARRISON, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs. 

